Automatic suction-pump or vacuum-chamber



PAT-ENTED JAN. 5, 1904..

. cf. 'HQWETTLIN. AUTOMATIC SUCTION PUMP. 0R VAGUUMOHAMB-ER.

APPLIUATION FILED APR. 2. mos.

' 2 sums-sum 1 1T0 MODEL.

AT/OHNEYS.

N 749,121. v PATENTED JAN. 5, 1904. 0. H, WETTLIN.

AUTOMATIC SUCTION PUMB 0R VACUUM CHAMBER. APPLICATION FILED APR. 2. 1903.

n: NuRnls wzrzns co, Pmmumm. w'nsmucmu o o UNITED STATES Patented January 5, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES H. WETTLIN, OF ASBURY PARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR OF ONEHALF TO ASHER S. BURTON, OF ASBURY PARK, NEW JERSEY.

AUTOMATIC SUCTION-PUMP OR VACUUM-CHAMBER.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 749,121, dated January 5,1904.

Application filed April 2, 1903. Serial No. 150,702. (No modeh) To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. WETTLIN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Asbury Park, in the county of Monmouth and State of New Jersey, have made certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Suction Pumps or Vacuum Chambers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improved apparatus for removing obstructions in water-pipes, but is otherwise applicable where a sudden and pow erful suction is required. The desired vacuum for producing the suction is produced by decomposition and explosion of some sub-v stance, preferably in liquid form, which is supplied in the required quantity to the chamber of a drum or cylinder constituting the body of or main part of the apparatus. The said drum or cylindrical body has as exterior attachments a holder for the explosive substance, means for controlling the admission of such substance to the chamber of the cylinder, and electrical means for producing ignition of the substance, while within the chamber is a device for distributing such substance, so as to produce a more effective explosion and powerful vacuum.

The details of construction, arrangement, combination, and operation of parts are as follows, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side view of my apparatus, a portion being broken away to show interior construction. Fig. 2 is a plan view, enlarged, of the distributor for the explosive substance. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the means for raising the valve which controls discharge of the explosive from the holder-chamber. Fig. 4 is a central longitudinal section of the apparatus.

The elongated vertical drum or cylinder 1 is constructed of steel or other material adapted to withstand the strain incident to the operation of producing a vacuum, as hereinafter described. The part 1 is made in two parts, connected by a screw-joint 2. The

lower part or base is provided with a reduced open nozzle 3, having elastic packing 4, inserted and held in a rabbet, as shown in Fig. 4. The said nozzle 3 is located eccentrically to better adapt the apparatus for use in sinks,

'tion with thelugs 18.

bath-tubs, or other places where the mouth of the obstructed pipe is near a vertical wall. The explosive substance is contained in a holder 5, (see Fig. 4,) which is practically a metal cylinder having thick top and bottom portions or ends attached by screw-joints having elastic packing at 8 and 9. The head .6 is provided with a passage 10, having a screw-plug 11, by which ,the explosive fluid may be supplied to the holder 5. The lower part or head 7 is made very thick and provided with a reduced portion which seats in an opening in the top of the cylinder 1, packing being interposed at 12. The heads 6 and 7 have alined central vertical passages for accommodation of a needle-valve 13. The latter is encircled by a spiral spring 14, whose lower end rests upon a flange or collar 15, located near the head 7. The lower end 13 of the valve is conical and fits in a corresponding seat in the passage 16 of head 7, the extremity 13 being reduced and spirally grooved. The remainder of said passage 16 is reduced in diameter, and a tube 17, having a conical nozzle or point, is screwed into the lower end of the same. Exteriorly to the explosive-holder 5 the needle-valve 13 is provided with lugs or lateral projections 18 and above that with a milled head 19 or other attach- 8o ment,adaptingit to be rotated manually. Spiral inclines or upwardly-projecting cams 20 (see Fig. 3) are arranged on head 6 for coac- It is apparent that when the valve 13 is seated as in Figs. 1 and 4 the chamber or holder 5 is practicallyclosed; but by quickly rotating the valve its lugs 18 ride up on the cams 20, thus unseating the valve at 13 and opening the passage 16 in head 7 for discharge of a quantity of the explosi ve fluid. The spring 14 instantly restores the valve to place upon its immediate release from manual control. The portion of the fluid escaping through the nozzle 17 falls upon aconical device that serves as a distributer 5 within the chamber 1, the same comprising (see Fig. 2) a central receptacle or cup 21, having side openings and radiating and downwardly-inclined gutters or troughs 22 and a surrounding circular trough 23, connecting I00 the troughs and having openings at the ends of the latter. This device is made of thin holder normally seated, as described. Nuts 27 are applied to the heads of the posts, and by their adjustment the tension of the springs 26 may be regulated at will to give any required pressure on the lugs 24 and thereby on the holder 5.

An electric battery 28, having preferably an annular form, is mounted or secured on the top of the cylinder 1. A wire or electrical conductor 29 extends from one of the elements of this battery to a point on the distributer, preferably in the cup 21, and another wire 29 ex-' tends therefrom through the side of cylinder 1. A third wire 29 connects the other element of the battery 28 with a spring-button 29, located opposite to but normally out of cont-act with the outer terminal of wire 29. The juxtaposed points of the wires 29 29 are tipped with platinum or a sparking coil will be provided. Thus in using the apparatus by pressing the button 29 the circuit will be closed through the battery 28 and a jumpspark produced between the terminals of the conductors 29 29, thus igniting the explosive charge previously admitted through valved passage 16 17, whereby an explosion occurs (the force or violence of the same being duly regulated)that is to say, the oxygen of the atmospheric air in the chamber is consumed and the negative or unconsumed gases are mostly driven out, the holder 5 rising bodily or being unseated momentarily, so as to leave a small annular space around the lower head 7. Thus a sudden and powerful vacuum is produced and a suction of relative tension is created. The nozzle 3 having been previously placed over the mouth of a water-pipe or other obstructed passage, the force of the vacuum is applied effectively in the passage. It is obvious the operation may be quickly repeated as often as desired or necessary.

It will be understood that the charge of explosive fluid is preferably ignited after it has run from the cup 21 along the troughs 22 into the annular trough 23 and begun to drip therefrom down the wall of cylinder 1.

For the purpose of protecting the battery 28 from flame or hot products of combustion or other gases escaping from the chamber 1 past the valve 7 I provide the annular casing 30, which is interposed between the battery and the explosive-holder and other exterior attachments thereof.

I propose to use any explosive substance suitable for the purpose, but one having the following formula will answer the purpose: ammonia, concentrated, two per cent.; calcium hydroxid, three per cent.; methylic or wood-alcohol,ninety-fivepercent. Theseelements are taken by volume.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The improved vacuum apparatus, for the purpose specified, comprising a chambered body having top and bottom openings, a holder for an explosive substance superposed and seated in such body and having a base portion provided with a. vertical passage, a spring needle-valve controlling admission to said passage, vertical posts having springs applied for retaining the holder normally on its seat, means for closing an electric circuit and producing an igniting-spark within the aforesaid chamber, and the distributer arranged in the chamber, substantially asshown and described.

2. The improved portable vacuum apparatus for the purpose specified comprising a chambered body having top and bottom openings, a holder for an explosive substance which is seated on said body and movable vertically independently thereof, the said holder having a base portion provided with a vertical passage, a spring needle-valve controlling admission to said passage, vertical guides for the holder, and springs applied thereto for retaining the holder normally on its seat, and means for closing an electric circuit to produce an igniting-spark within the aforesaid chamber, substantially as described.

3. Theimproved vacuum apparatus, for the purpose specified comprising a chambered body having top and bottom openings, a holder for an explosive substance superposed and seated in such body and adapted to move vertically independently thereof and having a base portion provided with a vertical passage, a spring'valve controlling admission to such passage within the said holder, and means for retaining the holder with its base as a valve normally seated upon the body and in the top opening thereof and for guiding it vertically when the explosion occurs, substantially as shown and described.

4. The improved vacuum apparatus, for the purpose specified, comprising a chambered body having top and bottom openings, a holder for an explosive substance superposed and seated in such body and having a base portion provided with a vertical passage, and side lugs, vertical fixed posts on which the said lugs are adapted to slide, spiral springs applied to such posts and nuts adapted for adjustment on the posts to vary the tension of said springs, as shown and described.

5. A vacuum apparatus for the purpose specified, comprising a chambered body having a base opening and nozzle located aside from the center, a. valved holder for an explosive substance applied to the top of said IIO body, and serving as a yielding valve for the opening in the body, springs for retaining the holder normally seated, and means for forming an electric circuit and producing a spark for igniting the explosive, substantially as shown and described.

6. In an apparatus of the character specified, the combination with the chambered body having top and bottom openings, of a holder for the explosive substance whose thick lower head is rabbeted and seated and adapted to slide vertically in the top opening, and also provided with a vertical passage, a conical valve seated in the corresponding mouth of said passage, a conical delivery-tube fixed in the lower end of the passage, springs for retaining the holder normally on its seat, and means for producing ignition of the ex plosive,substantially as shown and described.

7. In an apparatus of the character specified, the combination with the chambered body having top and bottom openings, of a holder for the explosive substance which constitutes a valve for the top opening, springs applied to such holder, substantially as shown and described.

8. In a vacuum apparatus of the character described, the combination with the chambered body having openings as described, of the valved holder for the explosive substance having alined passages in its ends, means for holding it normally and yieldingly seated, a retractable valve arranged movably in the upper passage and seated in the lower one, anda spring for holding such valve normally seated, substantially as shown and described.

9. In a vacuum apparatus of the character described, the combination with the chambered body having openings as described, of

the valved holder for the explosive substance having alined passages in its ends, means for holding it normally and yieldingly'seated, a retractable valve arranged movably in the upper passage and seated in the lower one, and having a lateral projection exterior to the holder, a cam on which the said projection is adapted to slide, and a spring serving to hold the valve normally seated, substantially as shown and described.

10. In a vacuum apparatus of the character described, the combination with chambered body provided with openings at top and bottom, and an explosive-holder serving bodily as a valve, means for retaining normally on its seat, a battery arranged adjacent to such holder, and a metal casinginterposed between the latter and the battery, and serving as a guard in the manner described.

11. In a vacuum apparatus of the character described, the combination with the chann-v bered body, and means for delivering an explosive thereinto, of a device for distributing the explosive, the same having a conical form and arranged in the chamber directly below the admission-orifice, substantially as shown and described.

12. The combination with the chambered body and means for delivering a charge of the explosive, of the distributor arranged horizontally in the chamber and consisting of a central cup, laterally-diverging conductors, and a peripheral trough arranged at the outer ends of said conductors and having outlets as shown and described.

CHARLES H. WETTLIN.

Witnesses:

SAML. A. PATTERSON, J 0s. 0. PATTERSON. 

